RIDE REVIEW I 2023 HUSQVARNA NORDEN 901 EXPEDITION
P86
PERFORMANCE
Add-ons aside, how does this
new Norden perform? Well, we
didn't waste any time finding out
across the fast-paced highways
and plentiful two-track of South
Africa's Western Cape. From
Cape Town inland, the testing
terrain was ideal for an ADV ride.
And we put every component of
the Husqvarna Norden 901 Expe
-
dition to a two-day test.
Let's start by saying the
electronics suite of the Norden
901 Expedition is complete. You
will want for naught here. The
Norden 901 Expedition comes
with it all: four ride modes with
pre-selected engine output, trac
-
tion control and ABS settings as
well as Explorer Mode with ABS
disconnection, selectable slip
control, and adjustable throttle
response. Cruise control is also
locked-in standard. You will not
be upgrading this system at the
dealer. It is as upgraded as it
gets from Austria.
The user interface of the ride
modes selection, ABS switch-
ing, Explorer Mode slip control
adjustment, heated accessories
activation and basically all in
-
teraction with the robots inside
the motorcycle (via the very nice
TFT display) is top-notch.
Most of our testing/riding on
Austrian ADV weapons is done
in Explorer Mode just to keep
things simple and fun. Sure, we
went to Road mode for some
highway stints but most of the
time we keep it in Explorer mode
and just adjust rear wheel slip
and throttle response around to
match the surface we're riding
on. This works as predicted and
it's great. Wheel-slip limitation
is done so without jerking or
hesitation and the nine levels of
adjustment are just dandy.
The power output is identical
to the past for all 890-based
ADV machines from Austria. It's
nice for highway duty and man
-
ageable off-road. That's thanks
